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The Masonry Association of Florida, Inc. (MAF) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1987.  Our mission is to promote masonry construction, provide professional education to construction decision makers and support the mason contractors in Florida.  Additional information is available on our website: www.floridamasonry.com or by contacting, Deb Bartolucci, 954-295-9926 or deb@floridamasonry.com.

Masonry Testing Protocols
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone had a great 2017. I am believing that it will be a better than ever year for the masonry industry in 2018. As I began to think about starting a new year, I looked at it similar to starting a new building project. As you review the specifications for the materials you will submit for approval you see the section on quality assurance. If it is a small project you will probably take care of it with paper work in your submittal. But if the project is a large project, it will probably include onsite testing. Serious thought and planning should be put into the testing procedures to be used. Chapter 3 of the TMS 402 Code says that “Masonry design requirements in this Code are valid when the quality of the masonry construction meets or exceeds that described in the Specification.” The designer will set up the QA (Quality Assurance) Program based on one of three requirement levels. The program will also describe the procedure for reporting and review as well as resolution of non-compliance. The QA Program will also state the qualifications of the testing laboratory and inspection provider. You will notice the last three sentences had mandatory language, such as “will” in them. This is not optional. If this is not provided, you should...

Masonry: the Intersection of Art, Innovation and Endurance.


2017 Masonry Association of Florida Masonry Excellence Award Winners
 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. October 1, 2017:   Art, Innovation and Endurance: the projects submitted for the 2017 MAF Masonry Excellence Awards are the embodiments of these qualities.  The Masonry Excellence Awards are the celebration of the art and craftsmanship of the mason, the innovation of the contractor and architect and the endurance of masonry materials produced here in Florida. 


Projects submitted were reviewed and judged anonymously by a distinguished jury of masonry and design professionals.  Consideration was given to the overall design and use of masonry, as well as the technical aspects of each project.  The winning projects listed showed superiority in technical design and craftsmanship.
17 Masonry Excellence Award Winners: 
Architectural Block – Commercial/Institutional:
 
St. Anthony’s Parochial School – Doug McCall, Coastal, an Oldcastle company.
 
Brick – Commercial/Institutional (Contractors):
 
Portillos Restaurant – Bill Parsons, Pyramid Masonry
 
Brick – Commercial/Institutional (Suppliers):
 
Sigma Kappa Sorority – Steve Bischke, Coastal, an Oldcastle company.
 
Brick – Residential (TIE):
 
Private Residence – David Nelson, David Nelson Masonry
Studer Residence – James Bradley, Bradley Masonry
 
Architectural Block Project of the Year:
 
St. Anthony’s Parochial School – Doug McCall, Coastal, an Oldcastle company.
 
Brick Project of The Year:
 
Private Residence – David Nelson, David Nelson Masonry
 
For more Information and pictures of all submissions is available on www.masonryawards.com
Winners will be honored at the MAF Masonry Excellence Awards Reception being held on October 22, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida.  Additionally, winning projects will be featured in the MAF Masonry Excellence Awards publication.
 
The Masonry Association of Florida, Inc. (MAF) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1987.  Our mission is to promote masonry construction and support the mason contractors in Florida.  Additional information is available on our website: www.floridamasonryawards.com  or by contacting, Deb Bartolucci, 954-295-9926 or deb@floridamasonry.com.
 
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Have you ever had someone or something encroach on your personal space so badly that you wanted to scream “Back Off!”? So how close is too close?

When my daughters were in high school, they went to a school that had a “Six Inch Rule”. Boys and girls had a 6” rule of separation. Now, as most of you fathers of daughters know, six inches is simply not enough!

A distance that can be critical for a masonry contractor is the distance from which masonry should be viewed to determine its acceptability. If we have reached the point of trying to view the masonry from a certain distance, we already have a problem. 

​Read the whole story here: https://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2017/06/01/painters-corner-mcaa-magazine-2/
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​Painter's Corner - MCAA Magazine
What can I do about congestion? The short answer is take an anti-histamine and call your doctor. Oh, not that type of congestion! That’s a sinus problem and all in your head anyway!

Congestion in a concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall creates frustration and aggravation for the mason. This leads to lower productivity and the possibility of mistakes by actions or omissions. Add it all together and you have created the potential for a less than expected quality product.
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“Congested” is defined as something being too full or overcrowded. There are several ways that CMU wall can suffer from congestion. The main contributors to the clutter in the CMU wall are the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades. Masonry is the only one of the three major wall types that is expected to accommodate their “stuff” as we build the wall. Wood and stud walls are built and then the MEP folks do their rough install. On the other hand, we (masonry) are expected to install piping, boxes, conduit, holes for duct work, etc. the accumulation of these things created congestion. 

​Read the full article: https://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2017/05/01/painters-corner-mcaa-magazine/

The categories for the 2017 Masonry Excellence Awards Program will follow the same format as last year, as part of our partnership with the AIA of Florida, we are awarding honors in three main categories:

• Brick
• Block and Stucco
• Architectural Units

Each category is represented well in the construction industry in Florida, from traditional Mediterranean stucco and block, exposed ground face and split face architectural units to traditional brick and block cavity wall construction. 

An overall winner from each of the main categories, as well as one Project of the Year will be featured in a supplemental publication going to all 4400 AIA Florida member architects in the state.
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Deadline for entries is July 1, 2017.  Please submit your entry online at: www.masonryawards.com
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If you have questions, please contact Masonry Excellence Awards Chairman Chris Bettinger chris.bettinger@oldcastle.com  or MAF Marketing Director, Deb Bartolucci deb@floridamasonry.com.

QUESTION: What is the tolerance of a CMU wall? How far out of plumb can a CMU wall be and still be
within code?

As everyone should be aware the “code” in question is the “Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures” (aka, TMS 402/602). The answer to the question is found in TMS Specification Article 3.3F titled “Site Tolerances”,
which gives several construction tolerances.

​Read more>